"We've watched him grow up," he said, adding that Affleck, who directs and stars in Argo, about the Iran hostage crisis, has "really reached his pinnacle."

Cagle says come Oscar time Affleck will "be right up there as best director with Steven Spielberg." George Clooney writes the Affleck tribute in the magazine, noting that has "become this world-class director."

Cagle says Affleck, who is married to Jennifer Garner and has three children, is "a great example of how to live and work."